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R/E/P => R/E/P Archives => j. hall => Topic started by: j.hall on June 20, 2007, 02:38:45 PM

Title: Mew
Post by: j.hall on June 20, 2007, 02:38:45 PM
who likes this band?

a friend just gave me two records to listen to, i love this band!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Mew
Post by: meverylame on June 20, 2007, 03:55:50 PM
"From my butt, I can can see your house."

Check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFjKALF454ghere

God I'd love to have been sitting in on that session.
Producer: "Yeah man, great vocal take! One take wonder! Playback? Nah man. You nailed it. Trust me!":meanwhile producer is rolling on the ground.:
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on June 20, 2007, 04:02:53 PM
boat, with their native accent = butt in english......NIIIIIIIIIIIICE
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: hollis on June 20, 2007, 09:19:08 PM
True story:

Last summer I wandered over to my local record store to buy the new Futureheads album. Now, when you buy a rock record on South Beach, you get loads of "rewards" because this kind of thing hardly ever happens.

Anyway, I get this Zookeeper's Boy EP tossed in for free. "Great, now I've gotta throw this away."

Go home, give Futureheads a work out (good, but bonus tracks drag it down like a lead weight). So I pop in this Mew CD and go about my business. 15 minutes later I'm thinking "What IS this? This is fucking great... and how long can this song be???"

From then on, that CD stayed in my player until the album came out.

Phenomenal and interesting record. They really nail the pop/heavy/odd times/syncopated/continuous/epic thing. I have listened to this album probably more than any other since it's release. Thanks for the mention! I was kind of sad that this didn't seem to get much attention in the indie press. Pitty Sing's self titled album is another in recent years that didn't get the coverage it deserved, and coincidentally discovered in a similarly happenstance manner.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: xonlocust on June 21, 2007, 01:15:19 AM
man that guys voice annoys the crap outta me Laughing
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on June 21, 2007, 01:13:48 PM
yeah, he can be annoying for sure, but i dig it.  it's different, and he isn't trying to be anything he's not.

i was listening to Frengers and thought, "man, this mixer is trying to go for the rich costey vibe big time......and he's really good at it."  i looked up the credits on AMG.....Rich Costey produced it and mixed it.....HAHAHAHAHAHA

the newest Mew record is an incredible concept record.  it truly flows, which is so hard to do.  i think the last record that flowed this well that i've heard was Refused.

from what i can gather, Mew is a big deal in europe, but not so much over here.

they remind me a lot of Muse with out the hard rock edge.  which makes rich costey's role even more interesting considering he's done the last two Muse records.

Title: Re: Mew
Post by: hollis on June 21, 2007, 05:09:42 PM
j.hall wrote on Thu, 21 June 2007 13:13

i was listening to Frengers and thought, "man, this mixer is trying to go for the rich costey vibe big time......and he's really good at it."  i looked up the credits on AMG.....Rich Costey produced it and mixed it.....HAHAHAHAHAHA


It did strike me that there are some pretty heavy hitters behind the production for such a little known band. Frank Filipetti did the latest album.

And it looks like they even got Kevin Bacon to do some mixing: http://www.answers.com/topic/and-the-glass-handed-kites?cat= entertainment Man that guy knows everybody.  Razz
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on June 22, 2007, 12:45:01 AM
michael beinhorn produced that record.

and i'm pretty sure their a big deal in europe.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: CHANCE on June 22, 2007, 09:54:38 AM
I watched the first "you tube" video and was pleased to hear something fresh, creative, and original. I ended up spending the evening watching all of those many "Mew-tube" videos. I wonder in that video where they were shopping for amps in New York, if that store was "Mannys". I bought a lot of gear from there when I was living in Boston.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on June 22, 2007, 10:00:48 AM
Man. They have a great sound. Thanks for turning me on to that... I think. That singer has an interesting voice and some pretty crazy lyrics. I like the sound of the 'Frengers' record better. It sounds a little more raw and edgy. Pretty cool and VERY unique.  Smile
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: cowudders on June 22, 2007, 01:37:43 PM
I discovered them through radio. They played that song with J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. 'why are you looking grave'. 'And the Glass haded Kites' has some complicated songs, but in a very good way. Love the bombast production on this release. Also love your 'secret club' album, you put on the web, Mr. Hall, btw!
Great songs!

cheers,
bernd
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on June 22, 2007, 01:41:10 PM
cowudders wrote on Fri, 22 June 2007 12:37

 Also love your 'secret club' album, you put on the web, Mr. Hall, btw!
Great songs!

cheers,
bernd


thanks!
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on June 22, 2007, 03:05:01 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgsfZChGS7w&mode=related& amp;search=

to have fake snow blowing on you during a live music awards show.........that's cool.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: random sunrize on June 24, 2007, 10:58:21 PM
holy moly thanks heaps for opening my eyes to mew!
great stuff
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on June 24, 2007, 11:05:52 PM
j.hall wrote on Fri, 22 June 2007 14:05

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgsfZChGS7w&mode=related& amp; amp;search=

to have fake snow blowing on you during a live music awards show.........that's cool.



i watched this video three times toggling back and forth to the album cut that rich costey did.

saddly, i think they are playing to a track.....even the band.  i'm not 100% as the live mix is slightly different.  but the drums and guitars sound too close.

if anyone else has Frengers, i'd love a second opinion.

i've watched tons of their live shows on youtube, these guys can play live......don't understand why they'd play to a track.

Title: Re: Mew
Post by: random sunrize on June 24, 2007, 11:15:08 PM
just heard the sasha remix to zookeeper's boy, seems pretty faithful. course the original's better.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on June 24, 2007, 11:29:28 PM
j.hall wrote on Sun, 24 June 2007 22:05


i watched this video three times toggling back and forth to the album cut that rich costey did.

saddly, i think they are playing to a track.....even the band.  i'm not 100% as the live mix is slightly different.  but the drums and guitars sound too close.


Dude. I turned someone else on to it this morning. What I couldn't understand, after talking it up so much to the guy, was why you couldn't hear ONE bit wind noise over the mics. They were in a wind tunnel with that breeze and snow business.

Not to mention that snare sounded perfect! Killer bass guitar sound too. Perfect vocal pitch... I don't know man!

I've watched a couple of the live things from YouTube as well. Very cool, but I think the snow and wind thing took precedent at the Danish awards show!

Oh well, I dig regardless. It's not like a Britney or Ashley Simpson thing!  Very Happy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne6iIGl8xro&mode=related& amp;search=
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on June 25, 2007, 09:34:51 AM
i didn't think about the wind and snow in the mics.  that's probably why they did that.

oddly enough, they played the DMA's two years later when their latest record came out and it's totally live.  in fact, they do a whole improve intro to the song "special" and it's really good.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on October 25, 2007, 05:47:20 PM
J. I can't tell you how much I ENJOY listening to this band. I put on the iPod almost every night and drift off. The dynamics (or perceived dynamics) really rock. The nasty bass, the hard hitting drums, killer guitar, and then this beautiful little voice just floating on top. The writing is stellar. It really never gets boring for me.

Thanks again.

JT
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on October 26, 2007, 09:37:07 AM
no problem.  according to their website, they are writing a new record.

the bass player quit to be a dad, which is noble, but a bummer as his parts were really great.

can't wait to hear new stuff from them.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on November 01, 2007, 03:54:41 PM
I hope I'm not beating a dead horse by keeping this thing alive. But I really am trying to reconstruct what it is that draws me in about this sound. Both albums, of course, sound different... but there are some similarities in the recording and mixing. ie. the importance of where things sit and WHEN. This is the big thing for me. When most of the chorus parts come in... they explode. It sounds like the bass goes into stereo too. What is your take on how everything just really spreads out at times and sounds very big, when during the verses they still sound wide and loud. They just get louder. Another prime example of not killing a mix before it goes to mastering, huh?  
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on November 01, 2007, 04:15:22 PM
first off.  shifting the discussion to the production is great.  isn't that what the forum is about?

secondly, i think the records are very different sounding.  the only similarity is the band's approach to song writing.  which even that changed A LOT from Frengers to And the Glass Handed Kites.

Frengers was produced, recorded and mixed by Rich Costey.  Rich is pretty amazing and this record reflects that.

not only do you have tons of cool sounds all over the record, but his sensibilities as a mixer are hard to beat.

take Snow Brigade for example.  the verses are very mono, the choruses are huge and very stereo.  i suspect he's automating a lot of volume changes to get the choruses to explode, but he's also bringing in more tracks and effects.

the bass tones he gets just rule!

the second record was produced by michael beinhorn.  again, another big time producer that knows what he's doing.  this record is much airier, and lush with keyboards.  something that made beinhorn a great choice considering his analog synth background.

the mixes aren't nearly as aggressive as Rich's, but they are realy good.  my favorite moment in the record is in "special" after the first verse they do that pre chorus part and the guitars just blow out in stereo.  nothing really changes mix-wise, but the guitars just get so wide......it's awesome.

both records are great, but i think Frengers is better sounding.

just don't forget that they have done both records with A-list producers.  that certainly can't hurt.

i'd love to hear them work with Rich again, or Tchad Blake.  the band's direction into odd arrangements and interesting sounds pushes them to more vibey producers and mixers.

michell froom would be awesome too.

Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on November 01, 2007, 05:00:44 PM
Yeah, I was basically saying that you can tell it's the same band. Like I said earlier in this discussion, Frengers is a much cooler sounding album. Not only does it get wide, but it gets tall!

The bass gets HUGE sometimes, but not too much.

The bass guitar sounds are agreeably VERY cool. I love the distortion. Again, it's not too much.

It is interesting every time I listen to it. There are so many highs and lows you get listening to their music. It evokes feelings and a lot of that has to do with the mixes.

It's not totally slammed, non-musical nonsense! A breath of fresh air.

Definitely artists at work on both sides of the glass.

My son is even into it. That's hard to do!!  Surprised
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on November 01, 2007, 05:19:28 PM
yeah.  my 3.5 year old digs glass handed kites.

i like listening to frengers and muse's absolution back to back.  rich made those records in the same year i believe.  not totally sure there, but he did them close together.  they sound very similar but are very different.

i wouldn't say that rich is "light" on the compression.  he just uses it where needed.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on November 01, 2007, 08:48:16 PM
I have an 18 month old and one that just turned 13!  Laughing  (built-in babysitter). T's favorite is 'Snow Brigade'. I like [that one], 'Zookeeper's Boy' and '156' (has to be one of the coolest)!

... from my butt. I can see your house.  Very Happy
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on November 02, 2007, 12:17:00 PM
fox cub, apacolypso, special, zookeeper's boy

brilliant transitions and segues.......that whole record is probably the most sucessful solid piece of sound i've heard.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on January 30, 2008, 01:03:04 AM
I'm going to beat the crap out of this rotting corpse of a horse!

Kids... If you haven't given these two albums some serious listening, then you're missing out on something very special.

Writing. Emotion. Originality. Production.

The sounds alone will keep you busy for a couple of months.

This is the most sonically interesting thing I've heard in a long time!
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on January 31, 2008, 04:18:05 PM
how bout they finish the next record already!!!!!!!!


Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on January 31, 2008, 05:22:36 PM
No doubt my man!  Twisted Evil
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: TheDan on February 01, 2008, 01:03:32 PM
I have caught them live a couple of times, once in a 350 max capacity room. Really really solid show. The guitarist had nice teles and jazzmasters through 2 Deluxe Reverbs. That was boner-worthy in itself. The singer hit everything right on, the lights/video was cool, just a damn good show.

They also ran their own in-ear monitor mix, from a small board they set up on the side of the stage with a wireless transmitter on it. Not sure who makes it, or if it was a one-off. Never seen one like it before.

See them play, when you get the chance.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on February 01, 2008, 02:06:50 PM
I've been checking the website periodically for a show near me... no luck so far.

JT
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: scott volthause on February 29, 2008, 03:58:04 PM
Thanks to your recommendations, I'm listening to these guys right now. I really like what I'm hearing.

Something about the way that guy sings really reminds me of some older Sunny Day Real Estate.

In a good way.

For me at least.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: Thomas Negovan on March 11, 2008, 03:21:23 PM
Yeah, I've seen these guys play twice, and each show was fantastic!  I tracked down the import of Frengers right after the first time that I saw them and was blown away by how much more I liked that album than the one they were on tour promoting.  All said, The Zookeeper's Boy is one of the coolest songs of the last decade.  It's REALLY hard to get me out of my house as I get older and more curmudgeon-y, and the only two bands who are really blowing my mind are Mew and The Ark...  (The Ark?  Think Abba meets Queen...)
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on March 14, 2008, 11:07:40 AM
J.

I didn't want to go back and review the whole thread, so I didn't know if you said it was for sure...

I read last night on some blog that Mew was in a Brooklyn studio recording the "Kite" follow-up... WITH Rich Costey.

Comment?
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on March 14, 2008, 03:17:16 PM
WHOA

haven't heard that.

heading to their site.  great news if true.

i started assuming they just broke up.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on March 14, 2008, 03:23:45 PM
their myspace blog says they start tracking in May with Rich.

can't wait.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on March 14, 2008, 05:03:22 PM
yeah man!!!!

I haven't really anticipated a record like this in a long time! What a rush. I will be blindly buying this album from the store as soon as it hits.

Another thing I like about Frengers...

The use of automation on the pan, volume, eq. The little variences in these eleme ts really make listening to it a really fun experience. It almost like noticing new things in a movie you've seen a hundred times. There are so many little things going on, but what's magical is that it blends in so well. The changes aren't in your face. That mix is really a work of art in itself.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on March 14, 2008, 07:56:56 PM
rich costey is very good at utilizing mono mixes.  there are many songs on that record where the verses are mono, then it explodes into a stereo chorus.

he does that a lot, and i never grow tired of it.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on March 14, 2008, 11:24:32 PM
"Am I Wry? No" makes me feel like I'm breathing in straight oxygen. The bass guitar sound changes three times that I can hear. That really happens a lot on this record. Very powerful.

Edit

Adding something.

I just listened to "Snow Brigade" again. It doesn't sound mono to me, but it is definitely centered. The cymbals and guitar are split off a little bit. Then on the chorus it gets really wide. But not just wide, it comes out forward too! The tones are all different too. I sounds like it's multed and eq'd differently andeverything and then... boom... take the busses off mute and ride the wave. I really can't say enough! I'm in love... I'm twitterpated!
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on November 05, 2008, 01:21:24 PM
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&f riendID=35725465&blogID=420437772

the new record, by this time, is most likely finished.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: A.J. on November 05, 2008, 03:49:06 PM
great news! I found out about Mew through this very thread. Can't wait to hear the new stuff.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: T. Mueller on November 05, 2008, 09:18:18 PM
So funny.  I was just in a restaurant that was playing Mew in the house speakers.

Sweet.
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on January 07, 2009, 09:13:34 PM
Supposedly mixing now. Tick. Tock.  Rolling Eyes   Razz
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on April 01, 2009, 11:51:57 PM
From their Myspace blog:

Hiya frengers, I guess you must be wondering what's going on in the Mew camp? Well, it's certainly been a long journey finishing this one, even we can't believe it! But rest assured, it won't be long now, finishing touches are being applied onto the songs as we speak (or as I write this, it's 2:29 am and I can't hear anyone speaking, in fact no sound at all, save my tapping on the keyboard..)
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: j.hall on April 02, 2009, 11:31:32 AM
i read somewhere that the record comes out in june

Title: Re: Mew
Post by: recall on May 21, 2009, 10:38:12 AM
http://www.nme.com/news/mew/44750
Title: Re: Mew
Post by: J-Texas on July 08, 2009, 10:51:07 AM
August 25th.  Smile